LADA’s Rob Huff heads to Japan for the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) races at the Twin Ring Motegi “with confidence high” as the Brit chases his and LADA’s first win of the season.
Huff has so far claimed a best result of second in 2015, which he took at the manufacturer’s home race in Russia. However the former champion has yet to take his first win this season, despite having shown improved pace in the LADA compared to 2014.
All drivers head to Motegi on a level playing field, with none having previously race at the new venue for the WTCC Race of Japan. It is the third new home for the event, which was previously held at Okayama between 2008 and 2010, and at Suzuka between 2011 and 2014.
“This will be the third different Japanese track I have raced at in the WTCC since Okayama and Suzuka and am really looking forward to the challenge at Motegi,” said Huff. “Japan is a great country and am a big fan of the culture and have always had an affinity with the Japanese fans after having stood on the podium six times in previous years, including my victory at Okayama in 2010, so I am hoping to expand that list this weekend with LADA.”
LADA have been active during the two-month summer break in the WTCC schedule, testing at their home circuit of Magny-Cours in France. The tests focussed on the Vesta’s geometry, suspension and engine effectiveness. As such, Huff is heading into the final four meetings with high confidence.
“The team has been working hard to further develop the Vesta TC1 since the last meeting in Portugal,” added Huff, “and we head into the final quarter of the season with confidence high in the camp.”
Meanwhile, LADA Team Principal Victor Shapovalov has said that he believes the reason the team haven’t been even stronger this season is due to the limited pre-season testing which they were able to carry out.
“At the beginning of the season we simply didn’t have time to conduct a proper test programme and maximise our car’s competitiveness,” explained Shapovalov. “That is why we have been quick in some races and not in others.
“The Vesta has been good at high-speed circuits during the first half of the year and we must ensure the car is quick at every circuit as we prepare for the Asian leg of the championship.
“Three of the four rounds will take place on brand new, unfamiliar circuits in Japan, Thailand and Qatar and this means it’s difficult to forecast anything, but we will do our utmost to maximise our performances at these tracks.”
Huff will have a new team-mate in Japan, with Nicolas Lapierre joining the team as Huff’s fifth different stablemate of the season.